Stem Cells Improve Kidney Transplant Outcomes

(HealthDay News) – Patients with end-stage renal disease receiving living-related kidney transplants with autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) instead of antibody induction therapy have improved outcomes, according to a study published in the March 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The researchers found that, at 13–30 months, patient and graft survival was similar in all groups. After six months, biopsy-confirmed acute rejection was seen in 7.5% of the autologous MSC plus standard-dose CNI group, 7.7% of the low-dose group, and 21.6% of controls. Glucorticoid-resistant rejection was not seen in any patients in either autologous MSC group, but was seen in 7.8% of patients in the control group who showed increased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels during the first month post-surgery. Compared with the control group, renal function recovered faster among patients in both MSC groups, showing increased eGFR levels during the first month after surgery. Combined analysis of MSC-treated groups revealed significantly decreased risk of opportunistic infections versus the control group during one year of follow-up (hazard ratio, 0.42).